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"Blue Thumb volunteers and staff work to collect aquatic insects in Park Hill Branch in Cherokee County. The Cherokee Nation will host Blue Thumb training for area volunteers on October 20th and 21st." Area residents have an opportunity to help protect the beautiful streams and rivers of northeast Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nation is hosting a Blue Thumb training for new volunteers on Oct. 20 and 21, and those who attend both days of the training have the option of becoming a Blue Thumb stream monitor. Blue Thumb is an education program of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission’s Water Quality Division. “We have several streams currently being monitored in this area,” said Cheryl Cheadle, Blue Thumb coordinator, “We tend to always get a good turnout when we look for volunteers in the Tahlequah area.” “The Cherokee Nation takes great pride in the exceptional natural resources within our tribal boundaries,” said Wayne Isaacs, director of Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs, “We are delighted to bring Blue Thumb in to teach our tribal employees and members, plus others from the community, about doing more to care for the environment, and we are excited about the data the volunteers will collect.” Volunteers who complete the two-day free training course are issued a test kit and they collect data monthly on the stream of their choice. They also work with Oklahoma Conservation Commission staff to collect stream insects and fish, plus they record habitat information. Teachers and students, both middle school and high school, often get involved in Blue Thumb to add a “field component” to classroom and lab work. Retirees, professionals with a flexible schedule, and farmers and ranchers frequently participate. In addition to the Cherokee Nation, local training sponsors are the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission, Cherokee County Conservation District, and the City of Tahlequah. The training session will take place from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on both days, in the Tsa-la-Gi Community Room at the Cherokee Nation W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex, 17675 South Muskogee in Tahlequah. You do not have to be Native American to participate in the training. There is no cost, but registration is required and a maximum of 25 participants will be accepted. To sign up for the training or to learn more about Blue Thumb contact Wayne Isaacs, phone: 918-453-5359, or Cheryl Cheadle, phone: 918-398-1804.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org